Second Pedestrian in a Week Killed by Florida Law Enforcement Patrol Car

It has happened for a second time in less than a week – a pedestrian crossing a North Florida roadway is hit and killed by a law enforcement patrol car in St. Johns County. This time a 57-year-old man from South Florida was driving a Mercedes when he hit the center median on Interstate 95 where he was northbound, according to The St. Augustine Record. The man got out of his car and walked to the north side of Race Track Road. The newspaper does not explain why he was walking back to the car when he was hit by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Deputy vehicle in the left lane. The man was taken to Baptist South Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Just one week earlier a 44-year-old man from Elkton was struck and killed by a St. Johns County Sheriff car off State Road 207. That fatal collision is under investigation. Under FHP policy, an officer is supposed to assist at an accident scene if they can safely do so.

If you are in a crash or your car breaks down, you are advised to move off the road and away from traffic. If it is safe to do so, stay inside the car. If it is not safe to be in the vehicle, all passengers should safely go to the road’s edge and away from traffic. FHP suggests raising the hood of the vehicle and tie a white cloth to the door handle or use reflective tape or triangles to alert oncoming drivers placed far enough ahead so motorists have an opportunity to slow down. Call 9-1-1 and wait for help.

In Florida, 482 pedestrians were killed in collisions with motor vehicles in 2009, according to the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Many of these pedestrian fatalities involve children.

The Florida pedestrian accident lawyers at the Farah & Farah law firm encourages everyone to drive defensively and be aware of people using other forms of transportation who choose to Share the Road with motor vehicles.